sump

noun

ˈsəmp 

1

: a pit or reservoir serving as a drain or receptacle for liquids: such as

a

: cesspool

b

: a pit at the lowest point in a circulating or drainage system (such as the oil-circulating system of an internal combustion engine)

c

chiefly British : oil pan

2

British : crankcase

3

[German Sumpf, literally, marsh, from Middle High German — more at swamp]

a

: the lowest part of a mine shaft into which water drains

b

: an excavation ahead of regular work in driving a mine tunnel or sinking a mine shaft

4

: something resembling a sump : sink sense 2

Examples of sump in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Many plumbers and remodelers choose to install a sewage ejector sump under the basement floor. —Tim Carter, Hartford Courant, 12 Apr. 2025

Failure to do this will create a vacuum within the sealed sump. —Tim Carter, Hartford Courant, 12 Apr. 2025

Add-ons: Central vacuum, standalone freezers, sprinklers, pool, spa, sump or well pump, septic system, roof leaks Coverage limits: $3,000 for AC/heating; $500 for electrical, plumbing and appliances; $400 for roof leaks. —Liz Knueven, CNBC, 31 Jan. 2025

Photo : Alex Penfold, courtesy of RM Sotheby's The 3.0-liter V-8 in this example, with its dry sump lubrication system, makes 237 hp. —Robert Ross, Robb Report, 31 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English sompe swamp — more at swamp

First Known Use

1680, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing sump

• sump pump

Rhymes for sump

• bump
• chump
• clump
• crump
• dump
• gump
• hump
• jump
• lump
• plump
• pump
• rump

Kids Definition

sump

noun

ˈsəmp 

: a pit or reservoir serving as a container or as a drain for liquids